Tourism is big business in northeastern Minnesota.

The economic impact of tourism in the five-county Arrowhead region was more than $676 million in gross sales during 2013, according to Explore Minnesota.

In St. Louis County alone, the economic impact was $488.4 million in gross sales.

However, a newly-formed group of 15 major Iron Range tourist attractions is collaborating to bring even more visitors and tourism dollars to the region.

The Iron Range Attractions Council, recently formed by the Iron Range Tourism Bureau, is a coalition of major tourist attractions from Hibbing to Embarrass, according to Beth Pierce, Iron Range Tourism Bureau director.

"We thought we needed a council like this to be able to share best practices, to network and for promoting," said Pierce. "I also want to know how we can better promote all these attractions, where their visitors are coming from, and how we can better reach out to tourists."

Members of the Iron Range Attractions Council are: Hull Rust MineView, Hibbing High School, Hibbing Historical Society Museum, Greyhound Bus Museum, Minnesota Museum of Mining, Minnesota Discovery Center, Virginia Heritage Museum, B'nai Abraham Cultural Center, Olcott Park Botanical Garden, United States Hockey Hall of Fame Museum, Mesabi Trail, Soudan Underground Mine State Park, Embarrass Homestead Tours and Nelimark Museum, Mineview in the Sky, and Lyric Center for the Arts.

"The mission is to increase attendance and revenues for Iron Range attractions," said Pierce. "So far, we've collaborated on producing a Field Trip Guide for home-schooled students, public schools, religious groups and senior groups. We're also working developing an interactive attractions map."

The council is just beginning to form its strategies for increasing attendance and tourism revenue, she said.

Representatives from other area attractions interested in becoming members of the council are invited to attend the council's monthly meetings, said Pierce.

A hospitality worker training event is also being planned, said Pierce.